Costly MBBS Seats Leave Telangana Colleges Empty

In Telangana, more than 175 MBBS seats in private medical colleges are vacant after multiple counseling rounds for NEET-UG 2026. These unfilled seats are exclusively in the management (Category B) and NRI (Category C) quotas, with all government college seats having been filled. Officials noted this is an unprecedented number of vacancies. The annual fees for Category B seats range from ₹10 lakh to ₹11 lakh, and for NRI quota seats, they are ₹24 lakh to ₹25 lakh, with fees regulated by the Telangana Admission and Fee Regulatory Committee (TAFRC).

Health experts attribute the vacancies to the escalating cost of medical education, which is becoming difficult to justify given graduate employment opportunities. They argue that financial constraints, not a lack of interest in medicine, are creating these vacancies. The state's recent expansion of MBBS capacity, with 900 out of 1,010 new seats in private colleges, further highlights the sector's growth. Concerns have been raised about some private colleges allegedly charging fees significantly above the prescribed amounts for Category A students, and even higher for Categories B and C.

Changes in this year's counseling rules, restricting competition for vacant Category C seats from Category B applicants, may have also contributed to the vacancies. Additionally, the availability of cheaper medical education abroad is attracting students. Limited employment prospects after graduation, especially without postgraduate specialization, and the absence of campus placements further deter potential students, prompting even medically-inclined families to reconsider expensive NRI quota seats.